And Mattis has a nice job at the Hoover Institute Think Tank waiting for him.
Stanford is much nicer place then the White House right about now....

In a normal administration, Zinke and Pruitt would have been gone because they had become a embarrassment. Aside from the petty ante corruption, they were too blatent and attracting too much attention to what they are doing. You need to keep a low profile when you are screwing the public.

Do you think Donny can set clocks by himself if he is the last one left standing?

Nah! He’d start ranting about daylight saving time on twitter being fake news or something.

Sure we do. Been around for decades.

And if I wanted to replace my perfectly serviceable alarm clocks and watches with significantly more expensive models which might not even include the features I prefer then I could have them too.

I expect that there are also microwaves, coffee makers, stoves, etc. with that capability which can be also be obtained. I also expect that the cost difference would be prohibitive on our budget. Not least because the ones we have work just fine for their intended purpose. Especially compared to the relatively minor inconvenience of resetting them twice a year or after the rare, occasional power outage.

Not ready to replace my cars, for much the same reasons.

Out of curiosity, Are all of your kitchen appliances which have clocks equipped to keep their times updated by radio signal? Every single clock in your house? All your watches? Your thermostat?

You do, it's called WWVB. And while we have in (mainland) Europe the DCF77 signal, I don't think I have a single clock that uses it. My computers keep their time on NTP, my cell phone on the phone network time, my HD recorder on the Teletext time of the TV channel, I have to adjust the time myself on my bedroom alarm clock, and the clock on my oven has been blinking now for a couple of years since the last outage because I really don't see the sense why an oven would need a clock.

That radio signal was once a cute idea, but these days, I'd prefer a device to simply have net connectivity and keep its time off NTP.

No but for the position of CIA boss, he found the perfect match: the illegitimate love child of Klaus Barbie:

Yeah, but I don't expect her to last.

I mean, aside from little character flaws like being a bloodthirsty sadist, she's liable to actually be competent at the job.

That's the Kiss Of Death in the Trump Administration.

I'd add that she's also likely to have the support of the institution she's in charge of, which makes her a potential threat. What Trump wants are people who are entirely dependent on his good favour - just like many a Roman Emperor or King of France.

Well my thermostat was updated over the internet. But I set my microwave, range, alarm clock 3 year old cars clock and so on.

OK,back on topic ...

https://twitter.com/BillKristol
@BillKristol 16h16 hours ago
This is RUMINT, but pretty credible RUMINT: Trump preparing to fire Sessions, name Pruitt Acting AG (which he can be since he already holds a Senate confirmed position), and Pruitt fires Mueller. And McMaster likely to be replaced by Bolton. Shulkin also on way out, FWIW.


https://www.politico.com/story/2018/...osition-326373
Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, has told friends and associates that he’s interested in becoming attorney general, according to three people familiar with the internal discussions.

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018...red-and-ivanka
Perhaps most consequential for Robert Mueller’s investigation, sources said Trump has discussed a plan to fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions. According to two Republicans in regular contact with the White House, there have been talks that Trump could replace Sessions with E.P.A. Administrator Scott Pruitt, who would not be recused from overseeing the Russia probe. Also, as an agency head and former state attorney general, Pruitt would presumably have a good shot at passing a Senate confirmation hearing.

Hmm so would republicans care if Trump fired Mueller or would they hold up the house "investigation" as their cover and shut down all investigations?

So when is Congress going to pass that legislation that protects Mueller?

The GOP is following the 4 stage strategy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSD1d-6P6qI

:D I'm afraid you're right.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administ...adviser-report

Reports that NSA Adviser McMaster is gonna get canned.

March Madness...

I was going to post a series of "You're Fired!" memes, but the irony has long been overwhelmed by the sheer idiocy.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/15/polit...ent/index.html
much stable
very genius

Sarah Sanders has denied any changes with McMaster...


He is probably packing his bags and looking at the Want ads right now.

Also, this may be a separate topic, but may be relevant here too.

When do you think Trump's cabinet and staff are going to stand up when he announces one of these ludicrous decisions and say "Nope, you're not firing us and we won't go. Go hang, we're going to run the country sanely instead of pandering to your silly whims."

How could they? They all serve at his pleasure, and he can fire them on a whim. The only exception is the VP.

And in your country, the UK, it's similar: May can drastically re-arrange her cabinet on a rainy Sunday afternoon, without anyone else's input or veto. Even worse, actually, as May doesn't need anyone's approval for a new appointment, while US cabinet appointments need Senate approval.

We should have made Bingo cards for this WH Survivor thingy.

Cabinet members have to be members of parliament, though. She can't just appoint her daughter or her golf caddy. Even appointing a member of the House of Lords rather than the Commons will raise an eyebrow.

Fair enough, my point was only with the cabinet members serving at the POTUS' resp. UK PM's pleasure.

Two nitpicks:
1) POTUS cannot appoint family members, a law against that was passed after JFK having RFK as AG. Javanka now are only WH advisors, not cabinet members.
2) In the UK, doesn't have every ministry also a Lord as junior minister who can defend the government bills in the House of Lords?

While such a thing would be quite noble, however it is quite impractical as well.

After all, like it or not, Trump is the president with all of the powers that entails. Such as using Secret Service agents and/or the military elements to forcibly evict anyone around the president that he deems to be a physical threat of some sort.

Brilliant!

I prefer "March Madness" style brackets....

Doge is an appropriate level of language for discussing Trump

Kelly has just reassured White House Staff that the rumors of further upheaval at the White House are false.
Which means that much more upheavel will happen, and quickly.
And multiple sources are reporting that Trump really does to want bring many more TV celebs on board.
The insanity is just beginning.

"The best people"

You seriously wonder how broken a person would have to be to desire to be in this White House at this point.

The only reason for Kelly to say that there will be no more firings is because he is next.

Nah, he's in it till the end. I know that because he was my pick in the dead pool.

But the prime minister is in post only with the support of parliament. Firing a popular minister might result in the end of that prime minister's career - see Margaret Thatcher.

In coalition governments (less common in the UK than other parliamentary democracies) posts are often allocated by coalition parties not by the prime minister.

You miss my point.

I asked when are people going to ignore Donny entirely, because it is clear that he is not even tangentially impinging on reality and all his actions are leading the USA down a dreadful path and everyone knows it. Because to continue to enact this lunatic's demands and orders purely because he has a badge that says "PREZ" on it smacks of the pathetic excuses at the end of WW2 for previous unconscionable behaviour: befehl ist befehl.

Of course, the analogy breaks down somewhere. but yes, the consequences for a poor reshuffling are worse for the British PM who may lose their own job in the process, than for POTUS who sits out his 4 year term.

Oh yes, and there may be differences too. Cameron could have theoretically fired Clegg on his own whim, because only the PM is appointed by the Queen - of course, it would have immediately cost him the coalition. In the NL, we just had a new FM appointed because the previous one resigned over having lied about meeting Putin in 2006. If PM Rutte had even tried to get a new pick appointed without consent from his coalition partners on the choice, the King would likely not even have installed the new candidate.

Yes, you're right. I focused too much on the highlighted part. That part is not true, and in fact, Trump has, one year into his presidency, not even appointed half of the various posts (IIRC some 4,000) which he's supposed to do. There are still some posts as ambassador vacant, I think. The latter may in fact be a good thing, as a career diplomat as acting ambassador is thousand times better than a bald-faced liar like Pete Hoekstra.

Likewise, I think that many departments will simply run on if there's not a boss in charge, because it then comes down to the acting boss etc. and ultimately to career civil servants who plod along like the last 20 years.

As to the second part, yes, I fully agree with you. They should stand up to Trump and right-out say they'll ignore him and run the country as they think is right, until he fires them. I had the impression that Tillerson sort-of did that, except that it's hard to ignore when Trump also travels the world and meets other countries' leaders.

I wonder though why you dreamt up the adverb "sanely" with people like public school-hater DeVos on Education and climate change denier Pruitt on EPA?

I've sort of seen this happen with a few companies run by dynastic families. Dear old Grandpa, who was the original founder and is still notionally the boss, has gone fairly la-la and he dribbles more these days. But he still gets to be CEO and sit on the Board meeting each week. There he issues all sorts of silly ideas and decisions, most of which would be illegal and/or plainly impractical.

In reality he is totally ignored, and the real running of the company gets done professionally by the staff outside the Boardroom without even telling Grandpa. None of Grandpa's idea are implemented, and he doesn't notice anyway. Everyone knows to nod yes to Grandpa to keep the old coot quiet and happy because it makes him think he is running the company!

Why can't the same be done to Donny? Just pretend he is king to keep him happy. That's all he really wants - to be acknowledged as "Da Boss". I'll bet it already does happen to some extent. All his hangers-on know how to keep the old bastard happy while getting in for their own personal cut.

Yes, good point. Depends on what you call "sane".

I guess you could say these people are "sane" enough to at least know that "cutlery" does not consist of greasy paper wrap or chicken leg bone.

But what I mean is someone who can actually follow due and legal process. Pence, for example, would behave sanely. His politics and goals would be disastrous, but you could at least expect he will not behave like an under-educated, ill-mannered, egocentric oaf in public.

Most of his supporters already seem to have an active ignore filter in place. They just adjust it automatically as required.

I suppose the question could be when will they stop listening. As these threads show, no one seems to be able to do that. :)

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/a-w...mccabe-firing/

A good commentary on the McCabe sacking. McCabe may well have deserved to be punished for misconduct. The behaviour of Trump however is just bizarre and an abuse of his position.

Anyone have John Dowd in the pool?

A lawyer doesn't have to represent himself to have a fool for a client.

He "loves" the president but his arse is still going out the door. So it seems Donny demands more than love from his employees.

If Bolton does replace McMasters, the body bags will be coming home very quickly. Bolton has stated that the US needs to bomb a few more countries to regain respect...
I am not a pacifist by any means, but Bolton is just plain nuts.

I doubt anyone who has signatures turned on would think you a pacifist.

In the picture I've seen it appears to be a revolving door, and Dowd appears to have a face like a normal man's arse.

McMaster out Bolton in.

Hmm.

March 16
Sarah Sanders:
"Just spoke to @POTUS and Gen. H.R. McMaster - contrary to reports they have a good working relationship and there are no changes at the NSC."

March 22
President Trump:
"I am pleased to announce that, effective 4/9/18, @AmbJohnBolton will be my new National Security Advisor. "

The Body Bags will start coming home soon with Bolton around.....